Then you have students who take wonderful notes and leave them on the desk at the end of class. Below are some ways to help students organize. Many teachers/teams require a 3 ring binder, with this in mind the first list is binder specific.
Binder table of contents -
This makes it easy to see what is missing and where. Providing a template for this may reduce student time waste 'decorating' and doodling on it. Can go forward or backwards. Helps students to study, allows you to provide scaffolded study guides naming what pages where kids can find the answer. Should include ALL work. Notes, homework, tests/quizzes, etc.
Binder check list -
In lieu of or along with the actual table of contents setting aside a few minutes at the end of the week for students to check there binder against a checklist. Could be an end of day activity for IEP/504/IAP etc. students.
Modify any/all of the above to include a parent component, perhaps through the planner/agenda.
Be sure to 3 hole punch ALL handouts, that means \\EVERYTHING\\. DO NOT expect students to do this. It is also a good idea to keep a supply of three whole punched loose leaf/scratch paper available to students.
Be sure to plan class to allow students to be organized, teaching after the bell, or right up to lunch etc. will encourage kids to slack in there organization to get out of the classroom. In younger grades build this time into your daily routine.
Collect student binders for a binder check. This can be done quickly as students are working on a unit assessment. Simply check that the table of contents is complete, that they have any hand outs or notes listed in the table, and anything else you need/want to keep track of. This way students can start a new unit knowing they can start with a fresh binder grade.
Non Binder Techniques
Weekly Checklists
Built in time for students to check there notes
Provide Archive space in your classroom. When possible (i.e. Middle School) provide a folder for each student in the room. At the end of the unit you can have students clean their daily folder and put it in the classroom one for later reference. In high school you can ask your students to empty there folders at the end of the unit, but at home or into their locker.
Absent students
Save handouts ahead of time. - When handing out any assignment, worksheet, etc. simply set aside one copy for each student and write their name on top and date. You can have a mail box in the back of the room for each period where students will know they can find what they missed.
Home work groups - At the beginning of the year assign homework groups to students. Have them pick groups of 3-4 and exchange some form of contact info. E-mail seams to be working at a younger and younger level, even cell phones in 7th grade (calls to be made after school). Let students know that when students are absent they should contact a classmate for what was missed. When a student is absent remind the other members of the homework club to get in contact with the absent student. You could even make a graphic organizer breaking the day down into 5 sections or so (opening/drill, activity/engagment1, activity/engagment2, activity/engagment3, Closing). Give a bonus point to the group member who takes the responsibility of filling it out (very breifly, a sentence or even a word to remind them what to tell the absent student).
Non Binder Techniques
Weekly Checklists
Absent students
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